The Wild Boar (JD Wetherspoon), Houghton Le Spring

This Wetherspoon branch has a dark interior, with a number of different sections. We were here for breakfast on a Saturday morning. Many others were doing the same. The real ale choice was very poor for this chain. They had their two regular beers - Greene King Abbot & Ruddles Best, in addition to a single guest beer - Maxim Lambtons. The real cider was Gwynt y Ddraig Black Dragon. As usual, table service was slow. You can only use CAMRA vouchers if you can get somebody to take your order. The only way we could do this without walking around and seeking somebody out was to order another drink from their app and wait for somebody to come to us. I'd certainly recommend doing this to save you some time if there are other drinks that can be ordered on the app. Unfortunately, despite this being a well below par Wetherspoon, it's seemingly the best Houghton-le-Spring has to offer.

Ugly, almost windowless 'spoons with the bar along one edge and an unappealing arrangement of gloomy seating / dining areas in the centre and to the other side. The choice from the duplicated clips on the two banks of five handpumps wasn't up to much either, with just the Maxim Sansom (£1.99) being worthy of note.

Visited in November 2017 on a weekday, late afternoon. Surprisingly for a Spoons there were only two guest ales, though reasonably priced at £1.99 a pint. Strange building, looks like a 1980s council office building or magistrates court from the outside. Familiar Wetherspoon furnishings inside. OK for one but if you were expecting to go and spend the evening trying different ales, you would be disappointed.

Externally this is a rather nondescript modern brick box that was formerly a night club. Inside it's better with a nice tiled entrance and the wooden floored bar area to the right. The eating areas are carpeted and have the usual low tables and chairs. The bar has ten hand pumps which had the JDW Trio Of Doom & Oakham Enough Rope doubled up then two other festival ales. I went for the Enough Rope (£2.25 festival price) which was in good nick. I though this one was let down by a limited beer choice.

Wild Boar page at the Wetherspoon site - www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk

Wild Boar page at the Wetherspoon site - www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk